“The nonfusion market far from being the future of the spinal devices it is just another segment with a conservative growth and probably decreasing in the middle-long run”. We heard that opinion from an important spinal surgeon some weeks ago, but at the same time, we read an article by Millennium Research Group (MRG) explaining the nonfusion market high growth for the next years.Who has the truth?
In 2003 when Synthes acquired the Prodisc lumbar device, from Spine Solutions (Viscogliosi Brothers) the leading companies already had a Lumbar Artificial Disc in their portfolio. DePuy had the Charite device and Medtronic the Maverick. At the same time, Dr Bertagnoli and Dr Mayer promoted the first SAS congresses (Spine Arthoplasty Society) and that was when the “nonfusion spinal market” really started.Thousands of spinal starts-ups developed nonfusion devices as dynamic rods, interspinous implants, cervical discs, etc. Most of us thought that the future of the spinal market was somehow linked to this new concept.
Now, 12 years later, the situation is very different: The Lumbar Artificial discs are seldom used, and the Cervical are smoothly decreasing focused on specific indications and mainly for young patients. Interspinous devices are moving towards fusion and most of the dynamic rods and systems have not the FDA approval yet.
But we recently read from Millennium Research Group (MRG), the following statement:”The global market for spinal nonfusion devices will almost triple in size through 2022, surpassing $1.6 billion. This market will be driven largely by emerging products and approvals, as well as high growth in emerging regions, such as Asia Pacific and Brazil, India and China (BIC).”
From our point of view, we agree with MRG with the second part of the statement. As soon as interspinous and artificial disc devices may enter into emerging markets, that will lead to an important growth of the nonfusion market. But, we are not so sure that new products and launches will significantly increase that segment since the present is fusion more than ever and the future will probably come from prevention in the middle-long run.